Apparatus for producing positives for natural-color cinematography.



J. E. THORNTON. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POSITIVES FOR NATURAL COLOR CINEMATOGRAPHY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1913.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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J. E. THORNTON.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POSITIVES FOR NATURAL COLOR CINEMATOGRAPHY. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I913.

2 SHEETS Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

SHEET 2.

WWTN ESSES.

JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, oF RoCfiEsTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN OWDEN OBRIEN, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

' APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POSITIVES FOR NATURAL-COLOR CINEMATOGRAPHY.

Patented J an. 18, 1916.

Application filed May 9, 1913. Serial No. 766,597.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN ED\VARD THORN- TON, a British subject, residing at Rochester, New York, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Positives for Natural-Color Cinematography, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to one of the steps in producing a complete color picture single 7 Width film for cinematograph or motion pictures-by superimposing two or more secwidth film produced by any other means or method) can be slit into three sectional parts and these sectional parts superimposed and cemented together to form a single width complete color film.

It comprises apparatus for drawing the film forward, slitting it, damping it, or applying an adhesive to it, bringing the sections together one over the other in correct register and causing them to unite and finally drying the film in its finished state.

The inventionwill be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of triple width film with three series of section color pictures thereon. Fig. 2 is a sec-- tional diagrammatic view of apparatus for slitting the, film into three and superimposing and uniting the three sections. Fig. 3 is a planet same. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of pieces of the three sections of the film as the are being superimposed and united.

The apparatus is constructed with a suction feed box B by which the triple width film A is fed to the machine, a series 01- cutting rotary disks or knives C by which a the film is slit into three sections 0; a? a a second suction feed box B. by which the slit film is carried forward from the cutting knives, a chest or chamber D for steam or vapor with guide rollers 03 and d and an inlet pipe d for steam or moistened air, into which the film which has been previously cemented and dried is passed for the purpose of damping it. The damping chest or chamber is provided with an outlet aperture d for the film and above the chest one or more pairs of reciprocating pins E or hooks or similar devices are mounted to engage the perforations in the three film sections and raise them into accurate registration before being united together. Adjacent to the reciprocating lifting pins E dabblng pads or brushes F and F acting against a table and rollers G are placed to firmly compress and unite the three superimposed film color sections a a a into a single width complete color picture film. Instead of damping a previously cemented film the B B are of known construction with an endless band I) of silk ribbon felt perforated metal or canvas wire gauze or other suitable material traveling over a suction box I) with perforated top in which a partial vacuum is formed by 'a fan or pump (not shown). A single band 6 passing over guide pulleys may travel over both suction boxes B B being carried on guide rollers below the cutting disks G. The lifting and registering pins E are operated by eccentrics e or in any other well known manner such as employed in the feed of film perforating machines.

In operation the triple widthperforated film A is fed into the machinefrom a reel or other receptacle by the suction. box B and slit into three sections a a a by the cutting disks C. From the cutting disks the severed film is fed by the section .box B- into the chest or chamber D over the guide rollers 01 from which it falls in loops or festoons and is therein damped if previously cemented and dried or it has an adhesive applied to it by the rollers 03'. a

The three film sections a a a are kept separate and out of contact by the rollers or bars (Z and as they pass out of the chest through the aperture d are brought into line one over the other. In a damp or sticky condition the three film sections a a a one over the other and they are thus assembled in their -relative positions superimposed. In this position the dabbing pads or brushes F and rollers G press them into absolute contact and unite them into a com: plete film after which the strip passes forward over the rollers H and H into a drying chamber K. The drying apparatus is a chamber with rollers it over which the film travels spirally and'is fed with warm filtered air by a fan. The finished film is then wound upon a reel, in any ordinary way.

Although described as applied to a three color film the apparatus may be adapted for .a twocelor-film or for a film with more than three colors. i

It will be understood that a machine such as described requires the highest class of workmanship, careful construction, and

, accuracy in all details, especially when it is understood that an error of as small as one-thousandth part of an inch in the superimposing, assembling and uniting of the several sections or layers of every picture is sufiicient to render the entire film useless.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for producing single-width complete color picture films for cinematograph or motion pictures from two or more superimposedcolor sections comprising in its construction cutters by which the film is slit into two or more sections-means by which the several sections are superimposed, and registering appliances whereby the pictures arebrought into correct register before the sections are secured together substantially I as described. I

2. In apparatus for producing singlewidth complete color picturefilms for cinematograph or motion'pictures from two or more superimposed color sections, the combination of reciprocating apparatus arranged to enter perforations in all the sections and operative to advance such sections simultaneously in correct register, and means for pressing the registered sections into contact. I

3. In apparatus for producing singlewidth complete color picture films for cinematograph 'ormotion pictures from two or more superimposed color sections, the combination of reciprocating pins arranged to enter perforations in all the sections and operative to advance them simultaneously in correct register, and dabbers for pressing the several registered sections into contact.

4. In apparatus for producing singlewidth complete color picture films for cinematograph or motion pictures from two or more superimposed color sections, the combination with means for feeding the film forward, of cutters to slit the film into two or more sections, guides to prevent the tacky surfaces of the several sections of film coming into contact before they are accurately registered, registering pins by which the sections are fed forward and dahbers to press the several sections into contact substantially as described.

5. Apparatus. for producing a single width complete color picture film for cinematograph or motion pictures from a multi-width film with two or more series of section colorpictures comprising in its construction suction feed boxes to feed forward the film, cutters to slit the film into several sections, means for rendering the film adhesive, apparatus for placing the film sections inv correct register one upon another and moving the film sections forward, and

apparatus to squeeze and unite the film sections.

6. Apparatus for producing a single width complete color picture film for cine matograph or motion pictures from a multiwidth film with two or. more series of sec.

tion color pictures comprising in its constructlon suction feed boxeswto feed forward the film, cutting disks to slit the film into several sections, a damping chamber to ren-' 

